CMHA partners up with Canadian Public Health Association to increase broader action on mental health promotion

June 19, 2014

In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness. However, there remains a gap between mental health and public health activities.

CMHA and the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA), co-presented a panel and workshop discussion on population mental health during the CPHA Annual Conference in Toronto. Both organizations were pleased to work with Dr. Suzanne Jackson of the University of Toronto and Dr. Jean Hughes of Dalhousie University, who provided participants with excellent and thoughtful overviews of the relationship between approaches to public health and mental health promotion.

The CPHA is interested in continuing its work with CMHA to explore similarities between the factors that influence public health and mental health. CMHA will continue to work with CPHA in the coming months to identify specific, evidence-informed public health interventions that can have an impact on mental health. This work will inform CMHA and CPHA’s public policy planning.